What We Believe - Our 'Statement of Faith'
If you’re a Christian and you are wondering whether our doctrine lines up with what you accept as sound doctrine, this section will tell you! If you are not a Christian yet, or if you are not sure whether you are or what you believe, you will certainly find this section (and the Bible references given after every paragraph) helpful. You should also go to the separate section in this website, "What is a Christian?"
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The Bible is God’s inerrant, infallible Word to all people at all times. Human authors under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit wrote it. As such, it is the supreme source of truth and is a completely reliable revelation of God. The Bible is the final authority in all matters of faith and doctrine.
2 Timothy 3:16
The eternal God has revealed Himself as one, existing in three distinct persons - the Father, the Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit - distinguishable, but indivisible.
Matthew 28:19; Acts 10:38; Genesis 1:26
Man was created in the image of God, but fell from this position by turning away from God. This rebellion is called sin and separated man from God. As a result of this, man’s moral nature was corrupted and spiritual and physical death ensued. This nature was transmitted through Adam, resulting in the total depravity of all mankind. Man’s restoration to fellowship with God is made possible only through spiritual rebirth.
Genesis 1:26, 5:1, 9:6, 3:6-8, 17-19; John 3:3, 6-7; Romans 5:1-12, 3:10-24; 1 Peter 1:3-4
Jesus Christ, being eternally God the Son, took on human form according to the will of God the Father. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, being fully God and fully man.
Isaiah 7:14, 9:6; Luke 1:26-35; John 1:1, 14, 18; Philippians 2:5-6; 1 Timothy 2:5
Jesus Christ died on the cross of Calvary for our sins. The blood that He shed was sinless and completely sufficient to forgive man for all sins. He is therefore the Saviour of mankind.
Matthew 26:28; John 1:29; Romans 4:25, 5:9; 1 Corinthians 15:4; Colossians 1:20; Hebrews 9:12, 22; 1 John 1:7; Revelation 1:5, 5:9
Jesus was buried and rose again from the dead three days after His death on the cross and personally appeared to His disciples.
Matthew 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20, 21; Acts 1:1-5; Romans 4:25; 1 Corinthians 15:4
Jesus ascended to heaven where He is now exalted and will come again a second time for His church.
John 14:2-3; Acts 1:6-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
The salvation of all men is by grace (which is undeserved and unearned) through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ and His perfect and sufficient work on the cross of Calvary. Salvation is a gift of God, not as a result of our good works or any human effort. Christ, having died for our sins, bore the wrath of God, completely satisfying God’s righteous requirements, so that all men may be fully reconciled to Him by grace.
Acts 16:31; Romans 4:22-25, 5:1-2, 4:7-8; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2: 8-9; Titus 3:5; Hebrews 9:22; 1 Peter 3:18
Man is spirit, soul and body. When putting his trust in what Christ has done for us through His death, burial and resurrection, the believer is indwelt with God’s presence, and his spirit is eternally justified. The soul of the believer who dies before the personal return of Christ enters immediately into Christ’s presence, there awaiting final judgment. The soul of the unbeliever is bound over for eternal punishment.
John 1:12, 14:17, 23, 15:4; Romans 8; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; I John 5:12, Matthew 25:34, 41; Luke 16:19-28; John 3:16, 5:24; 2 Corinthians 5:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9; 2 Peter 2:9; Revelations 20:10-15
After believing on the Lord Jesus Christ, the new convert is commanded by the word of God to be baptized (that is, immersed) in water in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit as an act of obedience and public confession and as an act of cleansing by the burial of the old self.
Matthew 23:19; Acts 2:38-39; 1 Peter 3:18-22; Colossians 2:12
God our Heavenly Father is committed to give the believer personal direction and establish standards by which he may know His will. The clear guidance of the inspired Word of God, along with the leading of the Holy Spirit, are the normal means that God uses to direct the believer’s steps into His will.
John 14: 26, 16:12-14; II Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 3:7-8, 4:12; II Peter 1:11; 1 John 2:20; Revelation 2:7
Believers are called to a life which reflects their spiritual position in Christ. They are to do all things to the glory of God, being careful to conform their life and conduct to the principles set forth in the Bible. This involves a separation from habits and conduct which may cause others to be adversely influenced and to stumble, together with a separation unto God, which will reflect their new life in Christ.
Romans 14: 13-23; 1 Corinthians 6:9-20, 10:31;
2 Corinthians 6:17-7:1; Ephesians 4:1-3; Philippians 3:17; Colossians 3:1-4; 1 Peter 1:13-19
The ultimate calling of all believers in this life and the next is to be worshippers of God. Thanksgiving, praise and worship should be continually developing in every area of believers’ lives and should characterize their daily walk under the lordship of Jesus Christ.
2 Chronicles 20; Psalms 29, 95, 100, 107, 136, 150; Acts 16:25-34; Romans 12:1; Colossians 1:12-14; Hebrews 10:8-14, 13:15; 1 Peter 2:5
The Holy Spirit is the helper Jesus promised to send. Through the Holy Spirit, the Word of God was inerrantly communicated to man in the form of the Bible, and it is only through His inspiration that it can be understood. The Spirit initiates the salvation of individuals by convicting them of sin. Upon believers’ responses in repentance and faith, He regenerates them and places a seal upon them, marking them as the property of God. The Holy Spirit recreates the life of Jesus in believers and in the Church, imparts gifts of the Spirit and cultivates the fruit of the Spirit. In addition, the Spirit guides the believers, teaches them and comforts them.
John 16:7-11; Acts 2:38-39; Romans 5:2-5; Ephesians 1:13-14; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 3:7-8, 4:12; 2 Peter 1:11-12
The baptism of the Holy Spirit or filling of the Holy Spirit is a dynamic and distinct event for all believers. By it, God empowers us to become His witnesses.
Matthew 3:11; Mark 16:17; Acts 1:5, 8, 2:4, 17, 38-39, 8:14-17, 10:44-46; Acts 11:15-17, 19:1-6
The laying on of hands is to be practised in accordance with Scriptural direction when praying for healing, for the impartation of the gifts of the Spirit and when setting believers apart for and commissioning them to ministry as directed by the Holy Spirit.
Mark 16:18; Acts 6:6; 13:3; 19:6; 1 Timothy 4:14; James 5:14
The Lord’s Supper is a special time of communion for believers, when the elements of bread and wine, representing the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, are taken in remembrance of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection, until He returns.
Matthew 26:17-30; Mark 14:12-26; Luke 22:7-23; 1 Corinthians 11:23-32
The church is comprised of all people who have come under the loving lordship of Jesus Christ and have been joined together to express His glory, kingdom and will in the earth today. This involves a lifestyle of discipleship in order to equip and mature the believer to minister the truths and principles of God’s word in love and service.
Matthew 16:17-19, 28:19-20; John 13:34-35; Acts 2:42-47, 4:32-35, 5:42; Colossians 3:16-17; 1 Peter 2:9-10
The Biblical pattern for the leadership of the local church is government by a plurality of elders under the oversight of apostolic ministry. This leadership is to outwork pastoral care that embraces all of a person’s legitimate needs. Gifting is necessary for this task, as is the exercise of biblical authority by the elders. However, Christ-like character is also necessary for the leadership of Christ’s church, and authority and gifting should be seen to be exercised with the demonstration of the fruit of the Holy Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control).
Acts 2:42-47, 5:42, 6:1-6, 14:23; 1 Timothy 3; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Peter 5:1-4, Galatians 5:22-23
The ministry gifts of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers are given by Christ to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. They are therefore necessary today and are to operate in, to and through the Church.
Ephesians 4:10-13
The Church is called to proclaim the gospel of the Kingdom to all nations, and then the end will come. In doing so, the Church has the privilege of sharing in the victory of Jesus Christ, and is called to join in the ongoing process of the enemies of Christ being made a footstool for His feet. All that is required to fulfil this mission has been provided. It is therefore the Church’s responsibility to go forth in faithful obedience to His authority. He will thereby extend His victory in all areas of life throughout the earth.
Matthew 16:18-19, 24:14, 28:18-20; Romans 16:19-20; Ephesians 3:8-12, 6:12; Revelation 12:10-11 |